"You just said..."
"You came here specifically... to gamble with me...?"
"Wh-why?"
Looking at Kyo ahead,
Tsunade's expression was somewhat strange as she asked.
However, her gaze subtly revealed a hint of seriousness.
In fact,
From the moment this brown-haired youth appeared so strangely, Tsunade realized he probably possessed considerable strength.
But she never expected...
His strength could be exaggerated enough to directly block her punch.
By this point,
Tsunade's drunkenness had naturally completely worn off.
So now,
She was naturally very curious about Kyo's purpose.
Why exactly did he specifically seek out someone who wasn't particularly skilled at gambling for a match...?
However,
Just as she was thinking,
Kyo across from them flickered his gaze slightly.
He had naturally anticipated Tsunade asking for the reason, but he wasn't worried.
Because he had already prepared an excuse.
Thinking this, he still smiled leisurely and said casually:
"Very simple."
"Because... I want to win, just once."
"...Eh?"
At these words,
Not only Tsunade, but also Shizune beside her was momentarily stunned.
Wh-what do you mean?
Want to win once???
So he specifically came to find Tsunade-sama?!?
Isn't that too insulting?!
However,
Before she could think further,
Kyo opposite them suddenly lowered his eyes slightly, putting on a somewhat bitter expression, and said emotionally:
"To be honest,"
"Just like you, I'm also someone who loses every bet."
"Ever since I started learning gambling techniques, I've never won once in the entire gambling world."
"Even when playing Landlord, if I started with two bombs and a straight, I could still get instantly wiped out by someone with 17 cards..." (T/N: Landlord is a type of card game popular in China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dou_dizhu.)
"???"
Kyo said with a very helpless expression.
However,
Hearing this, Tsunade and Shizune across from him were again dumbfounded.
Hmm...?
What is Landlord...???
What are the 'two bombs and a straight' and 'wiped out by 17 cards' he mentioned???
Could it be some new gambling method they've never heard of?
But...
Although they didn't understand,
It sounded like it was indeed quite tragic...
Only then did Tsunade's clenched fist relax slightly.
Even her tightly furrowed brow eased a bit.
With her over fifty years of life experience, she naturally couldn't fail to distinguish whether someone was acting.
The brown-haired youth before her, although very strong, spoke just now with the air of someone who had personally experienced it, not like acting.
It seemed,
He really might just be someone who coincidentally loves gambling...
Tsunade pondered slightly in her mind.
Since the other party hadn't shown any hostility even after her punch, then she didn't need to be so tense either.
"..."
Thinking this, Tsunade raised her eyes, looked at Kyo opposite, snorted lightly, and said:
"Hmph,"
"Even if you say that,"
"Don't expect me to just lose to you like that, kid."
"Come on --"
"You said it, what do you want to bet on?"
Tsunade stood upright, arms crossed, as if speaking from a superior position.
The anger in her heart,
After the earlier drunkenness and shock, had basically disappeared.
Since the other party wanted a gamble, it wasn't impossible.
After all, she herself was a gambling addict.
However,
Hearing this,
Shizune beside her was instantly startled and subconsciously exclaimed:
"T-Tsunade-sama, you're not... really going to gamble with him... are you...?"
"But, you just said you wanted to go back to sleep..."
"Don't worry, Shizune!"
Before she could finish, Tsunade instantly interrupted her, then showed a confident smile and said to Shizune:
"Anyway, I'm mostly sober now, no need to sleep so early, right?"
"Since this guy says he's never won... I also want to see just how bad his luck really is..."
Saying this, Tsunade ignored Shizune and looked back at Kyo opposite.
But, just as her gaze turned, she seemed to think of something, and her eyes suddenly lit up slightly.
The next moment, she suddenly curled her lips slightly, looked at Kyo with a frivolous gaze, and smiled:
"Hey, kid,"
"Before we start the formal gambling comparison, how about we..."
"Try arm wrestling first, how about it?"
"Since you blocked my punch just now, I also want to see just how strong your pure strength really is."
"If you can beat me in arm wrestling, then I'll gamble with you. How about that?"
Tsunade said with a strange smile.
As her words fell, before Kyo could react, Shizune beside her was momentarily stunned.
Uh?
Wait!
What's going on???
Tsunade-sama is... really preparing to compete with this mysterious brown-haired guy???
This...
This development is too ridiculous...
You were just angry because this guy called you 'Auntie'!
And now you're going to gamble?
Shizune stared blankly at Tsunade, her mind reeling.
After a long while,
She could only force a wry smile,
Although it seemed hard to understand,
She also knew,
Her teacher, Tsunade-sama, was probably... having another gambling urge...
And,
With her irascible temper,
Once she got excited, no one could stop her.
No choice...
"..."
And at this moment,
Kyo opposite, hearing Tsunade's words, naturally paused for a moment.
Huh???
What the hell...?
Tsunade actually volunteered to arm wrestle with me???
This...
Kyo immediately laughed inwardly.
He had originally planned to propose a strength contest after the regular gambling, but unexpectedly, Tsunade walked right into the trap herself.
Since that's the case, it actually saves trouble...
Thinking this,
Kyo immediately grinned and smiled:
"Of course, no problem."
"Don't waste time, let's do it."
...
A moment later,
The three arrived at an open space,
Then found a stone table and sat on opposite sides.
Tsunade and Kyo each extended a hand, gripping tightly in an arm-wrestling position on the stone table.
Beside them stood Shizune, looking helpless, speaking reluctantly:
"Then,"
"After I count down from three to one, you both start exerting force --"
"Three... two... one!"
Boom!!!
The moment Shizune's words fell, Tsunade and Kyo both started exerting force almost simultaneously!!
Around Tsunade, violent golden Chakra burst forth fiercely, shooting into the sky!!!
A fierce shockwave instantly spread, whipping up a sky-filling storm, sweeping terrifyingly in all directions!!
Around the entire stone table, dust, sand, and fallen leaves swirled in chaos!!
Shizune beside them even changed expression, staggering back several steps before barely steadying herself, her gaze shocked.
Hiss...
This is... Tsunade-sama's true power...
Even though she had seen it many times,
Shizune's heart was still very surprised as she looked incredulously at Tsunade.
Her determined gaze and focused expression highlighted her seriousness at this moment.
And the violent Chakra around her completely revealed her formidable strength!
Undoubtedly,
At this moment, Tsunade had exerted strength far beyond her earlier punch!
After a moment,
Shizune tried to shift her gaze and look at Kyo beside her.
However,
The moment she looked, she froze instantly, her mind going completely blank!!
This...
What the hell is going on?!!!
At this moment,
Kyo opposite Tsunade actually had not a trace of Chakra aura around him, eerily quiet!!
Facing Tsunade's immense oppressiveness, he remained calmly indifferent, without a ripple.
And behind him,
Nothing happened at all!!
Compared to the violent scene on Tsunade's side, it was a stark contrast of motion and stillness!
More crucially...
At this moment,
His hand... was actually subtly pressing down on Tsunade's!!!
"--!?"